Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32.

Thursday, 25 March 2010

Dáil Éireann Debate
Vol. 705 No. 3

Page of 205

An Ceann Comhairle:Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 32. I will call on the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.

Deputy Finian McGrath:I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the urgent need to support the residents of Clontarf, Dublin 3, in their efforts to close the head shop on Clontarf Road, to call on all Ministers and Members of the Oireachtas to bring forward legislation to put an end to these head shops in order to protect our children and young people, and to make this issue a priority.

Deputy Emmet Stagg:I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the decision by the Government to reduce the number of special needs assistants by 1,200 and, in particular, the decision by the Government to remove 4.5 SNA posts from the special needs school at St. Raphael’s, Celbridge, County Kildare, and to ask the new Minister for Education and Skills to review the decisions and, in particular, to accept the appeal by St. Raphael’s against this heartless decision.

An Ceann Comhairle:Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan:I do not want to disrupt the commencement of the Order of Business, but may I gently suggest that in the present climate, there must be some issue that is deemed sufficiently important to allow the adjournment of the House, such as the issue I brought to the Ceann Comhairle’s attention yesterday and again this morning. I and other Members will bring such matters to the attention of the Ceann Comhairle from time to time. At this particular time, the complete breakdown in the delivery of services by various Departments to the people of this country——

An Ceann Comhairle:Debate is not provided for at this stage.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan:——is sufficient in my view and in the view of people outside the House to necessitate that the proceedings of the Dáil be adjourned to allow an emergency debate on those issues.

Deputies:Hear, hear.

[504]An Ceann Comhairle:I have said that debate is not provided for at this time.